Organization and Use

Organization of the Book

The book is divided into three parts: Part One—“Interstates of Eastern United States,” Part Two—“Physiographic Provinces and Sections,” and Part Three—“Natural History Topics.” In Part One the road log of each Interstate is divided into physiographic segments (based upon Fenneman’s classic physiographic Provinces and Sections)—regions with fairly uniform geology and associated physiography. Each of these segments of highway has a brief introduction in the road log as it is entered. Parts Two and Three contain information intended to explain many of the comments in Part One. These two parts can also, of course, be used simply as introductions to the topics contained within them. (For more detail, download the book, and check out the tables of contents of those two parts.)

How to Use the Book

Part One contains the Interstate highways road logs, which can be followed along to see, or learn about, many of the natural features along the way. If you want more information (as I would hope) on the physiographic and geologic differences and history among the various regions of the country you are passing through, then you can refer to Part Two, where the physiographic Provinces and Sections are described in detail. If you want more information on the rocks, physiography, wetlands, forests, wildflowers, etc. you see along the way, then you can refer to the chapters of Part Three. The tables of contents of those two parts are quite detailed in order to facilitate this exploration. Also the table of contents of Part One—listing the Interstates and the states they pass through—has a section, “Further Information on Specific Subjects.” You can also use the “search” or “find” features of the specific software/hardware combination that you are using. The text also contains many recommendations of published sources of more detailed information.

An obvious warning: If the book is used while actually driving along the Interstate highways, it should be in the hands of passengers, not the driver.